Books Blog : book discussions, bicycling, audiobookshttp://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/tags/book+discussions/bicycling/audiobooks/default.aspxTags: book discussions, bicycling, audiobooksenCommunityServer 2008 SP1 (Build: 30619.63)A Road Story that nearly wasn't publishedhttp://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2009/08/11/a-road-story-that-nearly-wasn-t-published.aspxTue, 11 Aug 2009 18:01:00 GMT9a7b961d-7882-4302-b701-732ca0e566f2:1753kiya@evpl0http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=1753http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2009/08/11/a-road-story-that-nearly-wasn-t-published.aspx#comments<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><img width="175" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0670033634" alt="book jacket of Memory of Running" height="300" style="float:right;" /><a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSron+mclarty+memory+of+running%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Memory of Running</a></span> by Ron McLarty tells the story of Smithson Ide, a fellow who sort of let life get away from him. After his&nbsp;world is drastically shaken up by the unexpected deaths of his parents, Smithy almost accidentally finds himself riding his bicycle cross-country. What began as a short, drunken bicycle ride becomes a transformative journey that allows Smithy to rediscover himself and America.</p>
<p>That explains the &quot;<em><strong>Road Story</strong></em>&quot; but what about the &quot;<em><strong>that nearly wasn&#39;t published</strong></em>&quot;?</p>
<p>For most of his adult life, <a href="http://www.ronmclarty.com/">Ron McLarty</a> has made his living as a character actor, but never quite made it into the big time. He also worked as a <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSron+mclarty%7CFf%3Afacetfields%3Aauthor%3Aauthor%3AAuthor%3A%3A%7CFf%3Afacetmediatype%3As%3As%3AAUDIO%252BCD%3A%3A%7COrightresult?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">performer of audiobooks</a>, which became a steady gig. McLarty is also a prolific writer, but his ten novels were ignored by publishers, though. These days, many publishers won&#39;t take a chance on an unknown author, especially an older author. &nbsp;In 2000, McLarty showed one of his bosses at <i>Recorded Books</i> his manuscript of The<span style="text-decoration:underline;"> Memory of Running</span>, which began life as a play before growing into a novel. She liked it, and decided to produce it as an Audiobook Original.</p>
<p>In 2003, Stephen King listened to the audiobook, and loved it. Then he wrote about it in his <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,484759,00.html">Entertainment Weekly column</a>, calling it the &quot;best book you can&#39;t read,&quot; and encouraging readers of the column to buy or rent the title from Recorded Books. &nbsp;It wasn&#39;t long after that the agents and publishers started calling.&nbsp; The book was edited a bit more, and then published (which is why the audiobook version is different from the print version) to good reviews. Since then, the book has been optioned for a film, with a tentative 2010 date. McLarty has had two other books published as well: <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSron+mclarty+traveler%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">Traveler</a></span> and <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSron+mclarty+art+in+america%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">Art in America.</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p>There will be a book discussion of <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Memory of Running</span> at Red Bank Branch on Wednesday, August 12th, at noon. Join us to talk about this thought-provoking book!</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://evpl.org/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1753" width="1" height="1">audiobooksbook discussionsbicyclingroad tripRon McLarty